Highland Country Club ☆ Follow

Founded in 1928, Highlands Country Club is the premier, family-oriented private club in the North Carolina mountains. The 18-hole Highlands course features 6,255 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70 and was designed by Donald Ross, opening in 1928. At an altitude approaching 4000 feet, the course is not overly demanding for the average golfer, but demands accuracy, particularly on approach shots.

Donald Ross relied on blind tee shots and often even more concealed approaches to elevated greens to provide much of the deception. Only a rifle straight drive will suffice on holes like the 1st, 7th and 9th, in part because of out of bounds as defined for homes that have been built in recent times at this highly sought-after mountain retreat. The course features Bent Grass greens and fairways with excellent putting surfaces that are very true and fast with plenty of movement to challenge even the best golfers.

The club was established in 1928 and was the summer home of Bobby Jones. Bob Jones found the holes of such compelling nature that he spent much of the summers here rather than in Atlanta, and as Jones was such a keen judge of course architecture, not much else needs to be added as to the quality of the golf at Highlands.